Wire stretcher



March 1924.

I L488J3 L. F. WALLEN WI'RE STRETCHER Filed Sept. 5, 1922 Patented Mar.25, 1924.

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WIRE STRETCHER.

Application filed September 5, 1922. Serial No. 586,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs F. VALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at VVilsonville, in the county of Furnas, State of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire Stretchers;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stretchingdevices and particularly to devices for stretching telephone, telegraph,and electric light wires.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient deviceby means of which telephone and the like wires may be stretched, withoutthe use of rope devices heretofore used, and with better results, andwithout injury to the wires.

Another object is to provide a simple and compact device of thischaracter, and one which can be easily operated by one man.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Inthe drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a Wire stretcher made in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the device, onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing there is shown anelongated frame consisting of the upper and lower longer bars 10 held inspaced relation by the transverse bars 11, which are secured to andextend between the ends of the longer bars. Carried on one of the endbars 11 is a hook 12 which is adapted to be engaged with a suitablesupport, while a wire clamp 18 is carried by the other end bar 11.Slidable longitudinally in the space between the longer bars 10 is ashorter bar 14, the end adjacent the hook carried bar 11 carrying a wireclamp 15, similar to the clamp 13, and being in longitudinal alignmenttherewith.

Pivotally connected to the cross bar 11 which carries the hook 12, isone end of a link 16, the other end being pivotally connected to thelower end of a vertical lever 17 This lever is pivotally connected withthe end of the slidable bar 14, remote from the clamp 15, whereby whensaid lever is rocked in one direction it moves the bar 14 toward thehook end of the frame, causing the clamp 15 to draw the wire, the wiresliding through the other clamp 13. When the lever is moved in the otherdirection it moves the bar 14 toward the clamp 13, said clamp firmlyholding the wire, while the wire is permitted to slide through the clamp15. Thus, by rocking the lever back and forth, the wire may be drawn tothe desired tension. The link 16 compensates for the up and downmovement of the lower end of the lever, as the lever is rocked back andforth, thereby obviating the necessity of providing any slots in theparts. Furthermore,tho link serves to anchor the lever to the end of theframe, with the result that as the lever is rocked, the frame is movedin one direction while the bar 14 is moved in the opposite di rection.

Secured to the clamp carrying end of the bar 14, and extendingtransversely of the opposite outer faces of the bars 10, are thetransverse guide strips 18, which hold the said end of the bar againstmovement from between the bars 10.

Pivotally mounted on the upper ends of the strips 18, and straddling theupper bar 10, is a. hand grip 19, the same being connected to thepivoted jaw 13 of the clamp 13, for releasing the aw from the wire. Asimilar hand grip 20 is pivotally mounted on the hook end of the frameand is pivotally connected with the jaw 15 of the clamp 15, for the samepurpose.

lVhat is claimed is:

A wire stretcher comprising a frame including parallel bars havingterminal connecting and spacing members, a shorter bar disposed forlongitudinal slidable movement between the parallel bars, transversemembers on one end of the shorter bar and having their ends extendedacross the wider faces of the parallel bars, a link pivotally connectedto one of said spacing members, a lever intermediately pivoted to theother end of the shorter bar and having one end pivotally connected withthe other end of the link, a wire clamp on the shorter bar intermediatethe lever and the transverse members, a hand lever on one of thetransverse members and In testimony whereof, I affix my signaoperativelyconnected With the clamp, a ture, in the presence of two Witnesses:clamp on one of the spacing members, a hand lever on one of the parallelbars adjacent the LOUIS WALLEN' 5 spacing member which carries the link,and Witnesses: a link between the last hand lever and the F. R PARKER,

last clamp. 1 E. J. HAMILTON.

